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Beit Midrash
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Hashem told Yirmiyahu: "Go and call out in the ears of Yerushalayim: So says Hashem, ‘I remember for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your going after Me in the desert, in an uncultivated land’" (Yirmiyahu 2:2). This seems difficult. Was it Yerushalayim that followed Hashem out of Egypt, wasn’t it Bnei Yisrael, well before the period that they inhabited the Holy City? It is possible that Yirmiyahu was speaking to the Jerusalemites of his time as representative of Bnei Yisrael of all generations. The disciples of the Gra taught us a new insight based on gematria – "Yerushalayim shel ma’ala" (Heavenly Jerusalem) and Knesset Yisrael (the community of Israel), as well as sefirat ha’omer, share a numerical value (1071). We will give an example from recent history how Heavenly Yerushalayim protects our nation and strengthens belief in Hashem’s providence.
One of the things that the Gra instructed his students before their aliya was to build the "Churva (Ruins) of R. Yehuda Hechasid," which had been in ruins for a century since Muslim marauders destroyed it. The Gra’s simple intention was just to build a worthy symbol of the rekindling of the love between Hashem and His nation who were yearning to return to Yerushalayim.
A century after the rebuilding, the War of Independence broke out between the Jews of the infant state and neighboring armies, the most prominent of which was the Arab Legion of Jordan, which was trained and commanded by experienced British officers. The latter was in charge of capturing Yerushalayim and especially its ancient areas, in which the Churva was prominently located. The Muslims were upset because its dome was higher than the Al Aqsa Mosque. On Lag Ba’omer of 1948, the Legion succeeded in capturing the area and went about blowing up the shul, which brought great sadness to the Jewish community. At the same time, the Jordanians celebrated with great zeal as they destroyed this symbol of Jewish Jerusalem. They shot ammunition in the air for so long that they ran low on ammunition. Normally they would have just replenished the supply, but a miracle happened. The British, who were generally supportive of the Arabs, initiated an arms embargo on the region, which was wonderful considering that they had never supplied the Jews any arms. This miraculous chain of events was a major factor in the failure of the Arab Legion to advance much beyond the Old City. (A further miracle off the battlefield was Israel’s obtaining arms from Czechoslovakia.)
We can also see in hindsight how Yerushalayim shel ma’ala, which already accompanied Israel when they were in the desert, also accompanied Knesset Yisrael during the time of sefirat ha’omer in 1948. Once again in 1967, the Jordanians attacked Israel and were defeated by the IDF, returning the sons to their boundaries, including the entire city. This exhilarating event provided the momentum for a leap in the development of the young country.
This week we celebrate the unification of the city, as we hopefully complete the recovery from a dreaded pandemic and the broad troubles it caused us.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.